My name is Leann M. Coffey McNew. I am twenty nine years of age and due to the many circumstances of my life, I feel I am led to share my story.
            My lengthy story begins at the humble age of sixteen. During this time of my life, I was involved in many harmful drug habits. Even at this age I had begun smoking pot, snorting pills, and consuming large amounts of alcohol. In addition to the irony of this situation, I was actually the president of Champions Against Drugs and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). On October 16, 1996, the day that marked the anniversary of my sister’s death, I began experimenting with drugs. I consistently felt sorry for myself due to the fact that my stepfather forbade me to attend her funeral. Due to my grandmother sneaking me in, I was able to attend. Something very similar happened with my father’s mother when she passed away. I did not attend this funeral. It could even be said that these events led to my drug use. Even at an early age I was sneaking drinks from my stepfather’s whiskey supply. I managed to do this when he would ask me to get him a beer and pour it into his frosted mug. After so much of this, I ran away from home. I ran to a place that I thought would provide me with the comfort I longed for. I ran into the arms of my biological father.
            Upon my arrival, I began attending the local high school in my father’s community. My father was a very permissive parent. On several occasions I would spend endless hours with my new friends, without any questioning from him. I was literally making my own rules, which included few to none. There were many nights I spent my time behind a steering wheel serving as the designated driver after a night of boundless debauchery. I would often attempt to dissuade my friends from their reckless habits. However, I soon found myself falling prey to the same things.
            After a few years of this careless lifestyle, I graduated high school. Immediately following graduation, through the persuasion of my boyfriend, I relocated to Charleston, South Carolina. This is where the roots of my most addictive drug use began. I was so intoxicated on one occasion that I married my boyfriend with no recollection of the event. These hazardous habits would soon lead to my first overdose.
            At the young age of eighteen, I overdosed due to a massive dosage of cocaine; one-fourth of an ounce to be exact. However, my life was truly spared because of the meaningful prayers of those who loved me.
            Some time after my overdose, I decided that I was completely tired of my “husband” and divorced him . At the age of twenty-one, I decided to get married again. At this time in my life, I was merely playing with drugs. They held no need of everyday significance for me. It wasn’t until the birth of my first child that my days of darkness began to cloud around me. I started using intravenous drugs within six months of her birth. It was at this time the addiction really took hold of my life, if one could even call it that. To make matters worse my husband was on an even playing field with me. He was an Emergency Medical Technician. There were many instances that he would be high on Xanax and Methadone and driving an ambulance all at the same time. He even had himself convinced that he was never going to change. He was even able to persuade me into taking Methadone a few times.
            Still living the literal “high” life, we decided to move to Summerville, South Carolina. It was there that out of desperation of food and drugs, I began writing cold checks. These would accumulate to a total of twenty-six, spanning over three counties with a sum total of eight thousand dollars. This lifestyle began to taking a huge toll on me. It was then that I decided to move back to my home state of Kentucky in the pursuit of a drug-free lifestyle. My husband decided to accompany me on this journey. However, we faced many obstacles along the way. He ultimately decided to go back to South Carolina. I would soon do the same. Due to some of the illegal acts I committed there, I was summoned to court. It was there that I was convicted and sentenced to prison for five hundred and eighty days, although I did not have to serve this sentence because of the progress that I have made in my recovery. My ex-husband is now serving a 10 year sentence in prison for his drug related lifestyle.  In time, I was finally able to make the journey back home to Kentucky.
            After making it back to Kentucky, I lost custody of my daughter. Thankfully, her grandparents gained custody of her. This loss was what eventually drove me back into my addiction. I began ordering drugs on the internet. However, this lifestyle never seemed to fill the void. After several months, I decided to attempt a recovery. This road to redemption led me to Volunteer of America (V.O.A.), a long term treatment facility. After many hardships, I left the treatment center after six months and moved to Somerset, Kentucky to finish my outpatient treatment.
            During my treatment I was faced with a prior charge from the law. I was caught having possession of needles and other drug  paraphernalia in my car, along with four other people. Luckily, I was let off easy, with only first offenders probation for one year. This was truly one of the miraculous turning points of my life. I consider myself very blessed, in the fact that I have not been in trouble with the law since this incident.
            After my lengthy probation, I moved to Georgetown, Kentucky where I acquired my certification as a Certified Nursing Aide. I also was blessed with another child. My life was beginning to look up at this point. However, as with anything, whatever goes up, must come down.
            Six months after the birth of my baby boy, I relapsed. My relapse was faster, harder and stronger than anything I had ever experienced. Six months after this, I almost faced my death. At this time I was still fighting for custody of my daughter. I knew that this was a hopeless cause due to my condition as I was using drugs eight to ten times per day. I heard haunting voices during this telling me that I was going to die.
            After realizing my death was imminent unless a change was made, I decided to call Pikeville Medical Center in an attempt to receive help. I received a bed the next day. During this round of detoxification, I was in treatment for eight to nine days. I can vaguely recall the nurses shaking me in order for me to remain conscious. I was literally knocking on death’s door. It was through the saving grace of Casey’s Law, which was enacted upon me by my mother, that my life was once again spared. I was sent to rehabilitation against my will. I was furious. However, this was the final step to my life’s complete transformation.
            After the enactment of Casey’s Law, I lived in a homeless shelter for six months. During this time I was employed at Subway, until I was able to regain the strength to practice as a Certified Nursing Aide. My life was finally looking more and more positive. I was able to obtain my own apartment and attend college. I now hold a 3.61 grade point average and am looking forward to my graduation in one year. Due to my progress, South Carolina agreed to drop my charges and let me pay my restitution. I sent my final payment in August of two thousand and nine. I have been successful in finding a home and plan to earn my real estate license by spring.
            God has placed a call upon my life to help others who are walking down the same path I was. I have made several attempts to share my story. I am committed to reach those in need. If it were not for Casey’s Law I would be in jail, or worse than that, I would be dead. I soon plan to file for custody of my daughter. I feel that God has truly blessed me beyond my highest expectations.